The New Zealand Cadet Forces (Cadet Forces or NZCF) is a voluntary military-style training organisation for New Zealand youth between the ages of 13 and 21. Run in partnership with the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and local community organisations. Through its three branches, the New Zealand Cadet Forces provide young adults with a four-year training curriculum, while a number of local, area, and national camps and courses provide further experience and qualifications. It is jointly funded by the Ministry of Defence, the Royal New Zealand Returned Services' Association, local communities, and the Associated charities belonging to each branch (CCANZ, SCANZ, ATCANZ). Overall it is directed by Air Marshal Kevin Short, Chief of Defence Force. Cadets are not under any obligation to join the New Zealand Defence Force, however many choose to do so upon turning 18 years old.
Organisation It is composed of three Branches or Corps (similar to the New Zealand Defence Force):
New Zealand Cadet Corps (NZCC) Sea Cadet Corps (SCC) Air Training Corps (ATC).
The New Zealand Cadet Forces is commanded by the Commandant New Zealand Cadet Forces (COMDT NZCF). Assisting the Commandant is the Executive Officer NZCF (XO NZCF), the Assistant Commandant (ASST COMDT NZDF), and the Warrant Officer New Zealand Cadet Forces (WONZCF).
Training is provided by Cadet Force Officers, Cadet Non-Commissioned Officers, and adult volunteers through Cadet Units nationwide. Supported by three Cadet Forces Training and Support Units (CFTSU) composed of NZDF Regular Force (RF) personnel.NZCF PAM 1996, Annex A, Pages 4–5, 4–6, 4–7 The New Zealand Cadet Forces also play a large role in supporting community projects through volunteer labour.
History
1864–1902 The first unit raised was at Otago Boys' High School in 1864, making it the oldest youth service organisations in New Zealand. By 1870 there were several secondary school units in existence, among the first being Nelson College, Christ's College, Wellington College and Auckland Grammar School.
From 1864 until 1902 the training followed that used in the British public schools. The emphasis was on rigid discipline and shooting marksmanship and it was entirely controlled by the Headmaster; the Army was not involved. The Education Act 1902 (New Zealand) was responsible for most secondary schools forming cadet units and the Army became directly involved in the Cadets training following their Boer War participation.
1903–1940 In 1911, Lord Kitchener stated, during his visit to New Zealand, that the Cadet movement had an important role to play in the Defence of the Empire. Subsequently, the Army began to provide uniforms, rifles and other equipment to the units. This Army support continued through World War I, with many school cadets making up the officers and non-commissioned officers of the First Expeditionary Force.
In 1919 Compulsory Military Training was for all males from 14 – 21 years, thus Cadet units were structured into Cadet Battalions. Territorial regiments were raised and on completion of Secondary school schoolboys were posted to these Regiments.
In 1932 CMT was abolished, but most Cadet Units continued at the schools on a voluntary basis, supported by teachers who had experienced World War I. During World War II the Army could not support the cadet movement but Officers ineligible for war service continued to manage the organisation.
In 1929 the first open Sea Cadet Corps was formed in Christchurch, by the Canterbury Navy League. Units formed in the four main centres and were controlled nationally by the Canterbury branch of the League. The Navy League continued to manage these open community Sea Cadet units even when they came under the control of the Royal New Zealand Navy.
1941–1970 The Air Training Corps was formed in September 1941, Its purpose was to train potential airmen, providing basic knowledge and training as well as to provide an insight into Air Force work to prepare young men for the Air Force when they were old enough.
In the 1950s specialist training appropriate to their parent service was introduced for the cadet forces. The rate of increase in the cadet movement from 1948 – 1960 eventually proved counter productive in the 1960s as the Army could not effectively support the numbers while meeting their own commitments.
By 1964 the NZCF reached peak strength, mainly in school units of 198 units, with 1,000 officers and about 54,000 cadets.
Reorganisation saw many schools cease cadet support and by 1965 there were about 20,000 cadets; further changes to support by the Army and the communities reduced school cadet numbers to 34 units and 10,300 cadets by 1970. Open community Sea Cadet Corps and Air Training Corps units had, meanwhile, slowly decreased to 55 units with 3,200 cadets.
1971–1984 Centralised supervision was established by the Chief of Defence Force of all three Corps and a Commandant appointed with Regular Force Defence personnel, under the control of the Commandant, provided at five locations around New Zealand to support units. Cadet Force officers were appointed by the Minister of Defence with Cadet Force commissions, on a voluntary unpaid basis with authority to wear military uniform and rank.
The 1971 Defence Act, established the NZCF, as a volunteer organisation, for which the Minister of Defence was responsible. The open units were required to be initiated and funded by the community and the Chief of Defence Force was authorised to "direct and supervise" the NZCF and provide military support which was initially confirmed as uniforms, training and some equipment at a cost of no greater than $400,000.
The role of the NZCF ceased being primarily of military training and the preparation of young men for the Armed Forces and became predominantly adventure and development motivated with a military flavour and about 50% military subjects associated with providing knowledge of the roles and functions of the NZDF. The new thrust was to provide "good citizenship skills" to young men under the training methods used by the Military Forces.
Female cadets were accepted from 1977 and although the service flavour and well tried and tested services training methods and character was retained, additional training was introduced by units, which were desired by them and the community supporters.
1985–1990 The loss of Government financial support and turbulent social change in the 1970s caused school units to be abandoned such that by 1985 there were only nine remaining units, including the two earliest formed at Christ's and Nelson Colleges. Meanwhile, the Sea Cadet Corps had increased to 17 units and the ATC to 50 in the open community units. A significant development saw the introduction of Cadet Corps Units into the open community to satisfy the demand which the schools had abandoned, the first open Cadet Unit being the City of Porirua unit in October 1985.
1991–2010 In 1991 the ATC celebrated its Golden Jubilee, 50 years since it was formed. To celebrate and raise its public profile a relay run was organised in which cadets from every unit in NZ participated. It started at either end of the country and converged in Wellington. Along the way money was collected and donated to CANTEEN-teenagers with cancer.
In 2001 the ATC celebrated its Diamond Jubilee of 60 years in operation with special parades held in each area. By this time the ATC comprised 52 Squadrons spread from Kaitaia to Invercargill and approximately 2500 cadets.
At the beginning of 2010, there were 103 Cadet Force units in New Zealand, and cadet numbers approximately 4500 with 360 cadet officers.
2010–2019 Cadet 150
In 2014 the NZ Cadet Forces celebrated 150 years as one of New Zealand's oldest youth organisations. This saw most of their personnel hold the largest cadet exercise in 50 years, 'Cadet 150'. Held at Waiouru Army Camp, the exercise ran from January 24-30th and had cadets from every unit attending. In total around 1200 Personnel attended the event, with approximately 120 personnel being invited from allied cadet forces around the world, including:
Six cadets and one officer from the Canadian Cadet Organisation 70 cadets and officers from the Australian Defence Cadets. These personnel were transported to New Zealand via RAAF C-130J aircraft.
Upon arrival all cadets were separated into 25 different teams sorted Alpha – Yankee. These Platoons represented the group cadets would belong to for the week long activity and dictated when cadets would be eating and their accommodation and was relevant to the elective that the attending cadet had chosen.
Before arriving, personnel were able to nominate an elective to participate in, which determined a set of activities they participated in:
Land Elective
The Land Elective was a day tramp over the Tongariro Crossing in the Tongariro National Park volcanic plateau.
Water Elective
The Water Elective included sailing, kayaking, life raft experience and abseiling off a dam. Conducted at Lake Moawhango.
Air Elective
The Air Elective included an air experience flight, a flight simulator, military aircraft static displays, as well as RNZAF unit presentations. Conducted at RNZAF Base Ohakea. Cadets were transported via contracted bus services to RNZAF Base Ohakea early in the morning.
General Training Programme
As well as their chosen elective, attending personnel also participated in the following activities: Cadet 150 Activities MILFAM – Military weapons and vehicles familiarisation CIVFAM – Civilian weapons and historical Cadet weapons familiarisation STEYR – Steyr shoot WETS – Weapons Effects Training Simulator .22 SHOOT – Live Marlin XT .22 shoot CONCOURSE – Confidence course and mud run ORIENTEERING – Orienteering and Rogain course HIGH ROPES – High ropes course and pool MUSEUM – Visit to Waiouru Army Museum with Cadet flavoured exhibition SPORTS – Combined field/outdoor sports CASEVAC – Casualty evacuation and triage activity ARCHERY / MOUNTAIN BIKE – Archery and mountain biking 2014 - Operation Tauira
The year 2014 saw the implementation of Operation Tauira, a four-year, complete overhaul of the NZCF to better align the organisation with legislation and volunteer organisation best practice, improving the linkages with the NZDF recruiting objectives and to better enable achievement of the NZCF mission. Operation Tauira also implemented deliberate future-proofing initiatives to reduce risk, particularly in health and safety, reputation and relationship management. Along with the changes the NZCF saw a complete the restructure of the Headquarters element. The new structure saw the NZCF adopt the NATO style continental staff system, with NZCF commissioned officers now taking a bigger role in running the organisation at the national and area levels. This change saw the appointment of the first ever senior NZCF officer at the rank of a Wing Commander who has control over the day to day Cadet Force volunteers, and their operational running of the organisation in consultation with the Commandant NZCF.
2017 - Battle of Passchendaele, Youth Ambassadors
On 11 August 2016 the Ministry for Veteran's Affairs announced the "2016 Battle of Passchendaele Multi-Media Competition". Two personnel from the NZCF were selected from the general competition (Available to all year 13 students in New Zealand) to take part in the Youth Ambassadorshttps://www.facebook.com/YANZ2017/ delegation to travel to Belgium. The NZCF also sent along official representatives.
2018 - Visual Identity System